Frijoles
Canyon
You will stop at the park entrance just
off NM4 past White Rock to pay you fees and obtain literature
on the monument. From here it is 3 mile drive to the Visitor
Center in Frijoles Canyon. Park at the visitor center and walk
across the river.
Follow the road west (along the river) through the picnic area and to the path to Ceremonial Cave. The path follows the Frijoles River that is lined with cottonwoods, oak, willows, pines, and junipers. The canyon walls rise on both sides of the river making the Piñon/juniper habitat readily available. Violet-green Swallow, Turkey Vulture, and White-throated Swift soar overhead. The canyon walls contain calling Canyon Wren. House Wren, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Tanager, Plumbeous and Warbling Vireos, a variety of Flycatchers, White-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches, Graces and Virginias Warblers, occupy the scrub and trees along the river. In summer, Hepatic Tanager is present, but difficult to spot. Check all Turkey Vultures since Zone-tailed Hawk is present.
The round trip from the visitor center to the Ceremonial Cave is 2 miles. This can be cut in half by taking the interpretive walk through the ruins and returning along the stream. A 2.5-mile trail from the Visitor Center goes downstream to the waterfalls and to the Rio Grande. This trail has some steep climbs coming back to the Visitor Center.
Ponderosa
Campground
Somewhat higher areas of Bandelier can
be reached at Ponderosa Campground, 6 miles west of the park
entrance. The campground is situated at the edge of open pine
forest with a trail through the pines running 1.3 miles to Upper
Frijoles Crossing. The last part of this trail is very steep.
Part way between the campground and Upper Crossing, the trail
forks. The right fork goes to Upper Crossing while the left fork
leads down a side canyon. The left fork has been productive for
warblers as well as Three-toed Woodpecker. These trails are the
lowest point at which to look for Three-toed Woodpecker.
